Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-26
yyine-,naking in catalonia.

The American Consul at Catalonia writes
as follows concerning the method of wine
making pursued in that country, and
which will be of interest to California vine
yardsls
The value OF wine in Catalonia being
generally based on the deepness of the
color, bru.sing by the feet is preferred las
strange as it may SEEM 10 any wine-press
however perfect, for besides the advantage
the first method has over the second of
more perfectly airing the must, foot bruis-
ing breaks up more completely the outer
skin of the grape, in which the coloring
matter is contained. The pressing is done
either with bare feet (ihe men walking for
hours and hours around in small circle,
which is preferable, as neither the seeds of
the grape nor the stems, which contain a
great amount of tauGln, are broken, or
with hemp sandals especially made for the
purpose
If wooden iermenting-vats are used. the
hruising is me in tubs from three TO five
feet wide and two ;eet high. When The
pressing is finished the juice and stems are
taken to the fermening-vat, either by run
ningLhem oil from the press direct. when
the presS-tubs are located higher than The
vat, or in dippers, etc. When the vats are
of masonry, the pressing is done on plat
form of loose boards on top of the watts. the
must running into the watts through the
cracks The stems and seed and skins are
also let down into the watts by raising one
OF the boards. care being taken that they
spread out uniformly on the bottom of the
watts, for which purpose the boards are
fed successfully one after another
As stated above. foot-bruising is preferred
to the use of any mech IN cil press. The c
are, however, known and also used, two
kinds of machines manufactured in BARGE
Iona, and many of English, German and
Belgian make are offered for sale.
Must undergoes two iermentations-the
rapid. or tumultuous, and the slow. The
first takes place in the watts after coming
from the press. In Catalonia these watts are
generally made of wood, while in the rest
OF Spain. as | understand, earthen watts are
| commonly used. The wooden watts are
easily set up and cleaned without difficulty
They are filled to within eighteen inches of
the top, thus avoiding the spilling of the
wine when, in complete fermentation, the
head is formed. The size of these vats
| differs, being proportionate to the quantity
of the crop, for if. as is desirable the fer
mentation is to take place simultaneously
in the entire liquid, the vat should be able
to be flied in twenty-four hours.
| ). In Catalonia the wines are more appre-
ciated the drier they are; that is to say, the
less unfermented sugar remains and the
greater amount of coloring matter they
contain. Aflcr the tumultuous fermenta-
ton the wee is decanted into casks. where
i unGsrgoes the slow fermentation In
many parts of Catalonia this decanting is
still done Will pals, whereby the wine
often sours or Loses aroma on account of
coming in contract with the air too long.
Pumps, siphons and saii-cloth hose are
daily Gaming in more use. The slow fer
nsntation in the casks, which lasts six
months, is the last process and the wine is
! fit Tor the msrket.
In tbs above description have given
| preference to the methods of making wire
| hy the smaller wine growers and farmers,
| so characteristic Of Catalonia.